The Senior Resident Magistrate Court in Kasungu District has sentenced 57-year-old Kaliza Njolomole to 18 years imprisonment for defiling a 12-year-old girl.
Police Prosecutor James Muyila told the court that the convict defiled the girl on January 29 this year at Chigumba Trading Centre where she had gone to play with her friends.
Njomole pleaded guilty to the charges levelled against him and the State prayed for a stiffer punishment to deter would-be offenders.
Passing sentence, Resident Magistrate Bira Kamanga concurred with the State the the convict needed to be punished severely and therefore sentenced him to 18 years imprisonment with hard labour.
Njolomole hails from Mbewa Village in the area of Traditional Authority Wimbe in Kasungu District.